ANOTHER JOYOUS RAINBOW CHRISTMAS

For almost 20 years, our gang has gathered for a weekend in December to celebrate this holiday together. We have spent weekends in a number of venues, and this year it was Glacier Peak Resort in Marblemount that saw us celebrating. 

And this year was the rainiest two days in the history of here! We each arrived in hard pouring rain, went to bed in hard pouring rain, awoke to the same hard pouring rain, and took a walk. Our bikes would not see their riders on this Saturday.

We tucked bikes away for another day ;’-(.

We got ourselves situated in our accommodations — camping for us, cabins for others and dived into our traditional Friday night Pizza dinner.

Rudolph came...

And Santa’s elves (Lizette and Shelly) brought a tree to light up the festivities...

Breakfast up at the cafe provided ample food the next morning and Kathy especially enjoyed her pancakes...

After breakfast, as it continued its downpour, walks were planned and everyone got into their walking gear.

Susan and I opted to do a shorter walk than some, and our trail started very near our campsite and the cabins. The River Trail. Lots of moss.

Lots of puddle lakes to maneuver. 

I didn’t know what this next thing was, but found it rather pretty — and interesting.

I later learned from Maridee, who learned from a learned person, that this is some form of lichen that grows in the trees and then falls to the ground. It is filled with nitrogen and feeds and replenishes the soil and surrounding trees. 

Once back from our walks and having our individual lunch, it was time to gather for the start of things.

Our tree, as it turns out, had not been complete earlier, so Lizette began adding the rainbow chain to it...

Shelly felt that Lizette was not doing QUITE right, so she jumped in to help...

NOW it was ready... gifts and all.

And then our annual gift exchanging could begin.

Maridee attempts to explain the rules for this year's gift exchange at Rainbow Christmas. EVERY year the coordinator begins to explain the “rules” of the gift exchange. EVERY year there are tons of questions from everyone waaaay before the end of the presentation! It takes a long time to finally get it down!!!

Some of us pay rapt attention to Maridee.

And soon the gifts begin ;’-). Kristin is pleased with her pick of presents, an apron made by Vickie.

But Maridee is quick to make the steal.

Undaunted, Kristin finds a good one .. the favored mug...

...but that gets stolen twice and Kristin gets a different gift.

Kathy and Kristi (and Tango) patiently wait their turn...

Eventually all gifts were opened and we needed a break before dinner. Plus there was a Washington Huskies football game on t.v. that Susan and Carol would NOT miss. We all went up to the lodge to watch the game, set up stockings and get ready to have dinner.

The Huskies win their game against Boise State.

We watch with different emotions!

And THEN it is time for our stockings,

Kathy is not sure what this thing is... and Susan says Maridee looks like she is knitting without the needles.

And we all get our second annual buff, which can be worn in many different fashions.

All this fun, and we had not been able to ride our bikes due to the record breaking rainfall! Alas, on Sunday morning. Kristin pulled five of us together for a short ride to the Fish Hatchery and back. We were so happy!

At the hatchery I spotted one (of many) tree with that lichen-like stuff hanging from it.

And one of many buildings that are gradually being eaten by the weather and nature.

This is a long post, and I thank Lizette for being our fine historian with many of the pictures included in my post. It was hard to cull them and choose only a few. Must also thank her for our annual buffs!!! ;’-)

Until next year, this is a Happy Holiday post for and from all the Rainbows.